A local leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party fell unconscious during a joint forces drive and was declared dead by on-duty doctors at Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex in Chuadanga early Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Shamsuzzaman Dablu, 50, general secretary of the BNP’s Jibannagar municipal unit.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relation Directorate described the incident as unexpected and deeply regrettable, saying it was unacceptable in any form.

The ISPR said all members of the army involved in the operation, including the camp commander, had been withdrawn, and a high-level probe committee had been formed to determine the exact cause of the incident.

‘Legal action will be taken against those found guilty following the investigation under the Army Act,’ the ISPR said.

According to the ISPR, joint forces conducted a special drive at around 11:00pm on Monday in Jibannagar upazila based on specific intelligence to recover illegal arms. During the operation, Shamsuzzaman Dablu was detained from a pharmacy near the upazila health complex on allegations of possessing illegal weapons.

Based on information obtained from the detainee, the joint forces searched the pharmacy and recovered a 9mm pistol, one magazine and four rounds of ammunition, the ISPR said.

After completion of the drive, the detainee suddenly fell ill and lost consciousness. He was immediately taken to Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead at about 12:25am on Tuesday, the release added.